Lighting Designer

Francesca Zambello’s acclaimed production of Madame Butterfly returns to Glimmerglass, directed by Joshua Horowitz and conducted by Joseph Colaneri. This elegant, visually stunning staging presents a nuanced examination of the American presence in Japan and the cultural collision at the heart of Puccini’s timeless masterpiece.

Madame Butterfly

Glimmerglass Festival

The epic struggle between good and evil reaches its climactic conclusion in Richard Wagner’s Twilight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung), as the battle for the ring of power brings about the destruction of the gods’ world. Devoted love is torn apart by manipulation, and the final reckoning unfolds in a cataclysm of fire and water. In the operatic repertoire, few works rival the grandeur and emotional intensity of Wagner’s masterpiece. This new production of the monumental finale to the RING cycle offers operagoers an unforgettable experience when witnessed live.

EPSG:4326

Twilight of the Gods

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

The show must go on, but how? For Canio and his traveling troupe, painted smiles and colorful costumes belie infidelity and betrayal. The façade is shattered when a hidden affair is revealed and a lighthearted night at the theater gives way to jealousy, suspicion, and ultimately violence. As the line between performance and reality blurs and the drama onstage begins to mirror the turmoil offstage, Pagliacci begs the question—does art imitate life, or does life imitate art?

Pagliacci

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

A debonair stranger, Nick Shadow, appears to Tom Rakewell and tempts him with the chance to reimagine his future. As Nick conjures a series of enticing adventures for Tom, Anne Trulove fights for Tom’s salvation. Written in Stravinsky’s neoclassical period, Stravinsky’s only full-length opera score sparkles with elegant vocal writing and lively dance rhythms.

The Rake’s Progress

The Glimmerglass Festival

Tosca, a tempestuous diva, lives for art—and for love. When Cavaradossi, her lover and a revolutionary painter, is targeted by Rome’s corrupt chief of police, Tosca is determined to save him—but at what price? Puccini’s lush score, written on the heels of La bohème, contrasts moments of exquisite tenderness with heart-stopping sonic spectacle.

Tosca

Experience the timeless allure of Handel's Baroque masterpiece, "Semele," presented by The Atlanta Opera in a company premiere that promises to captivate audiences with its intricate blend of sensuality, ambition, and jealousy. This season, immerse yourself in the tragic love triangle between Princess Semele, Jupiter, king of the gods, and his vengeful wife Juno. Set against the backdrop of Handel's most beautiful arias and choruses, "Semele" explores themes of sex and death with exquisite music that has resonated through the ages.

Performances are scheduled to take place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, offering audiences the chance to experience this gloriously moving masterpiece performed in English with English Supertitles. The runtime is approximately 3 hours and 38 minutes, including intermissions, ensuring a comprehensive immersion into the opera's rich narrative and musical brilliance.

The cast features Lauren Snouffer as Semele, Josh Lovell as Jupiter/Apollo, and Elisa Sunshine as Iris, under the creative direction of Christine Brandes as conductor, Tomer Zvulun as production director, with scenic and projection design by Erhard Rom, costume design by Vita Tzykun, and lighting design by Robert Wierzel.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a pivotal work of the Baroque era, brought to life by a talented cast and creative team. Subscriptions are on sale now, with performances scheduled for June 7, 10, 13, and 15, 2025. Join us for a night of opera that promises to be as enlightening as it is entertaining, showcasing the enduring power of Handel's music and the timeless tales of Greek mythology.

Semele

Verdi master James Conlon conducts Rigoletto, featuring some of the most famous music in history. Quinn Kelsey, the premier Verdi baritone of his generation, returns to star in the title role, with tenor René Barbera as the suave and sadistic Duke and Italian soprano Rosa Feola as Gilda, his unsuspecting prey. Stage director Tomer Zvulun updates the action to Mussolini’s Italy, transporting audiences to a realm of glittering grandeur that’s absolutely rotten to the core.

Rigoletto

The Music Center

Step into the orbit of the Apple co-founder who rose from garage genius to tech titan. With a Grammy®–winning score by Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence emeritus Mason Bates and libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning librettist Mark Campbell, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs offers an operatic journey through the interior workings and spiritual journey of an innovator. Bates merges an electronic soundscape with Campbell’s classical lyricism to immerse audiences in the world of Silicon Valley in the 1980s.

The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

**Siegfried - The Atlanta Opera**

Join The Atlanta Opera for a monumental journey through myth and legend with Richard Wagner's "Siegfried," the third opera in the iconic four-part Ring Cycle. This epic five-hour masterpiece, performed in German with English supertitles, promises an unforgettable experience of love, courage, and wisdom triumphing over the lure of power. 

**Performance Details:**

- **Venue:** Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
- **Season:** 2023-24
- **Runtime:** Approximately 4 hours, 55 minutes, including intermissions
- **Dates:** 
  - Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 6:30 pm
  - Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 6:30 pm
  - Friday, May 2, 2025, at 6:30 pm
  - Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 2:00 pm

**Synopsis:**
"Siegfried" follows the journey of its fearless titular hero, from his upbringing by the dwarf Mime to his ultimate awakening of Brünnhilde, weaving together the stories from "Das Rheingold" and "Die Walküre." With the forging of the broken sword Nothung, Siegfried embarks on a quest that leads him to confront the dragon Fafner, discover the power of the ring, and ultimately, find love.

**Cast & Creative Team:**
- **Siegfried:** Stefan Vinke
- **Mime:** Barry Banks
- **Wanderer Wotan:** Greer Grimsley
- **Brünnhilde:** Lise Lindstrom
- **Conductor:** Roberto Kalb
- **Production Director:** Tomer Zvulun
- **Scenic & Projection Designer:** Erhard Rom
- **Costume Designer:** Mattie Ullrich
- **Lighting Designer:** Robert Wierzel

**Special Features:**
- Performed in German with English Supertitles
- Pre-Performance Talk: Learn about the opera's history, composer, and more one hour prior to curtain. Free with your ticket.

**Tickets & Subscriptions:**
Subscriptions for the 2023-24 season are on sale now. Don't miss your chance to experience this and other magnificent operas. For tickets and more information, visit The Atlanta Opera's official website.

Embark on a journey of mythical proportions with "Siegfried" at The Atlanta Opera, where the power of storytelling through music and performance brings Wagner's vision to life.

Siegfried

Hungry, cold, broke, and deliriously in love, the artists in Puccini’s masterpiece break our hearts over and over again each time it is performed, our pulses quickening as Rodolfo lights Mimì’s candle anew. The Dallas Opera’s treasured period production returns with a fresh cast of some of opera’s brightest rising stars, transporting us to the cafés and corridors of Paris’s Latin Quarter as tragedy hovers nearby.

La bohème

AT&T Performing Arts Center

Experience the powerful and poignant opera "Blue," co-produced by Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Glimmerglass Festival, and Washington National Opera. This compelling narrative delves into the life of a Black middle-class family in Harlem, whose aspirations for their teenage son are tragically disrupted when he is shot by a white police officer. The opera features the evocative music of Tony-winning composer Jeanine Tesori, paired with a deeply sensitive libretto by Tazewell Thompson. The production stars the formidable bass Kenneth Kellogg, who has garnered acclaim in previous performances of this work, alongside mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams and baritone Norman Garrett. Sung in English with projected English titles, "Blue" is a moving exploration of contemporary social issues, brought to life through a combination of powerful vocals and dramatic storytelling. The production also includes accessible features such as ASL interpretation, audio-described performances, and touch tours, ensuring an inclusive experience for all audience members.

Blue

Lyric Opera House

Experience the timeless brilliance of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This masterful opera, set in the opulent castle of Count Almaviva, delves into the intricate dynamics of human relationships. The plot revolves around the clever servants, Figaro and Susanna, who scheme to outwit their capricious employer, with the support of the Count's long-suffering wife, the Countess. Adding to the intrigue is Cherubino, opera's most endearing pageboy. This production, directed by the renowned Barbara Gaines, promises an exhilarating experience, enhanced by the dynamic conducting of Erina Yashima in her Lyric debut. The opera, sung in Italian with projected English titles, features a stellar cast of internationally acclaimed artists, including Ying Fang as Susanna, Federica Lombardi as Countess Almaviva, and Gordon Bintner as Count Almaviva. The performance is enriched by the creative contributions of set designer Jim Noone, costume designer Susan Mickey, and lighting designer Robert Wierzel. With a running time of three hours and thirty minutes, including one intermission, this production offers a profound and engaging exploration of love, deception, and redemption, all set to Mozart's unforgettable score.

The Marriage of Figaro

Immerse yourself in a world where the lines between reality and performance blur at The Glimmerglass Festival's new production of "Pagliacci." This gripping opera, composed and with a libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo, is sung in Italian with projected English texts, ensuring an accessible and deeply engaging experience for all attendees. Set against the backdrop of a traveling troupe of players, "Pagliacci" explores themes of love, jealousy, and the tragic consequences of blurred realities through its compelling narrative and emotionally charged music.

The festival proudly presents this opera from July 27 to August 18, 2024, offering a unique pre-opera experience, "Lyrics on the Lawn," an outdoor picnic performance that begins 40 minutes before the curtain rises. The mainstage performance, lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes, promises to captivate audiences with its intensity and dramatic depth.

Under the generous sponsorship of Elizabeth M. and Jean-Marie R. Eveillard, the production boasts a talented creative team, including conductor Joseph Colaneri, director Brenna Corner, choreographer Eric Sean Fogel, and a host of other skilled professionals dedicated to bringing this story to life.

The cast features Holly Adams as a Clown Performer/Consultant, Robert Stahley as Canio, Amber Monroe as Nedda, Troy Cook as Tonio, Jonathan Patton as Silvio, Fran Daniel Laucerica as Peppe, and a vibrant ensemble that adds depth and color to the performance.

Set in a village where a troupe of players arrives to perform, the opera unfolds a tale of love, betrayal, and vengeance that mirrors the drama of the characters' offstage lives. As the boundary between performance and reality dissolves, the audience is drawn into a powerful narrative that culminates in an unforgettable climax.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience this masterful blend of comedy, thriller, and tragedy at The Glimmerglass Festival. Secure your tickets now for a summer filled with myth, mystery, and adventure, and support the arts by becoming a part of the Glimmerglass community.

### Event Description: Pagliacci at The Glimmerglass Festival 2024

**Event:** Pagliacci  
**Dates:** July 27 - August 18, 2024  
**Location:** The Glimmerglass Festival, Cooperstown, NY  
**Tickets:** Available for purchase now

#### Overview:
Experience the gripping drama and passionate performances of Ruggero Leoncavallo’s *Pagliacci* at the 2024 Glimmerglass Festival. This new production of the beloved opera intertwines a farcical play performed by a troupe of clowns with a harrowing tale of jealous love, inspired by a true crime report. The immersive festival setting adds a unique third frame to the opera, featuring a pre-opera picnic performance, "Lyrics on the Lawn," on the outdoor stage.

#### Performance Details:
- **Music and Libretto:** Ruggero Leoncavallo
- **Language:** Sung in Italian with projected English text
- **Outdoor Picnic Performance:** 40 minutes, begins one hour before curtain
- **Mainstage Performance:** 1 hour and 45 minutes

#### Performance Dates:
- July 27 (matinee)
- July 29 (matinee)
- August 2
- August 6 (matinee)
- August 8
- August 10
- August 18 (matinee)

#### Creative Team:
- **Conductor:** Joseph Colaneri
- **Director:** Brenna Corner
- **Choreographer:** Eric Sean Fogel
- **Set Designer:** James Rotondo
- **Costume Designer:** Erik Teague
- **Lighting Designer:** Robert Wierzel
- **Hair & Makeup Designer:** Tom Watson
- **Chorus Director:** Katherine Kozak

#### Synopsis:
The opera begins with an aging Tonio recalling his days with a traveling commedia dell’arte troupe. The story unfolds as the troupe arrives in a village to perform. Canio, who plays Pagliaccio, becomes suspicious of his wife Nedda’s fidelity. The tension escalates when Tonio, rejected by Nedda, informs Canio of her affair with Silvio. The boundaries between the staged farce and real-life drama blur during the evening performance, leading to a tragic conclusion.

#### Cast:
- **Canio:** Robert Stahley
- **Nedda:** Amber Monroe
- **Tonio:** Troy Cook
- **Silvio:** Jonathan Patton
- **Peppe:** Fran Daniel Laucerica
- **Clown Performer/Consultant:** Holly Adams
- **Ensemble:** Henry Benson, Lauryn Davis, Benjamin Dickerson, SarahAnn Duffy, Saane Aziza Halaholo, Kaylan Hernandez, Emilie Kealani, Seiyoung Kim, Evan Lazdowski, Winona Martin, Tshilidzi Ndou, Daniel O’Hearn, Ajit Persaud, Namarea Randolph-Yosea, Alexandra Sanchez, Geoffrey Schmelzer, Tzytle Steinman, Joshua Thomas, Catherine Thornsley, Kyle Sanchez Tingzon, Ethel Trujillo, Zizhao Wang, Xiao Xiao
- **Dancers:** Kailee Brandt, Peter Murphy, Scout Santoro

#### Special Notes:
- **Generously Sponsored By:** Elizabeth M. and Jean-Marie R. Eveillard

Join us for an unforgettable summer of myth, mystery, and adventure at The Glimmerglass Festival. Secure your tickets now and be part of this extraordinary operatic experience.

**[Buy Tickets](#)**

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Glimmerglass Festival website.

Alice Busch Opera Theater of Cooperstown 

Immerse yourself in a world of swashbuckling pirates, comedic adventures, and melodious tunes with "The Pirates of Penzance" at The Glimmerglass Festival. This vibrant production, directed and choreographed by Seán Curran and conducted by Music Director Joseph Colaneri, marks the return of Gilbert & Sullivan's classic to Glimmerglass for the first time in nearly two decades. Featuring set and costume designs by James Schuette and lighting by Robert Wierzel, the production promises a visually stunning and musically thrilling experience.

"The Pirates of Penzance" combines soaring vocal lines with slapstick comedy in a colorful, family-friendly production. It tells the story of Frederic, who, due to a nurse's mistake, is indentured to a band of pirates until his 21st birthday. Upon reaching his age of freedom, Frederic's attempt to leave the pirate life behind leads to a series of humorous and heartwarming encounters. The production is further enhanced by the addition of a corps of professional dancers, elevating Seán Curran's hit production to new heights.

The opera, with music by Sir Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W.S. Gilbert, will be sung in English with projected lyrics, ensuring an accessible and enjoyable experience for all. The run time is approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes, with performances scheduled from July 22 to August 19, 2024.

Generously sponsored by Eugene and Jean Stark, the cast includes notable talents such as Troy Cook as Major-General Stanley, Craig Irvin as the Pirate King, Christian Mark Gibbs as Frederic, Elizabeth Sutphen as Mabel, and Eve Gigliotti as Ruth, among others. This ensemble of characters will bring to life the enchanting and humorous tale that has captivated audiences for generations.

Don't miss your chance to experience this timeless masterpiece at The Glimmerglass Festival. Secure your tickets now for a summer filled with myth, mystery, and adventure. Join us for "The Pirates of Penzance" and be part of a world where voices soar and laughter abounds.

The Pirates of Penzance

Alice Busch Opera Theater

The Ring Cycle, Wagner’s magnum opus, continues with Die Walküre, the second epic installment in the series. The daughters of Wotan, ruler of the gods, serve as Valkyries tasked with guiding the souls of fallen warriors to Valhalla. But as scandal erupts, Wotan finds himself at odds with whom he most trusts.

Die Walküre

Experience the vibrant fusion of jazz and opera with the Washington National Opera's latest production, "Songbird," at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater from March 9 to March 23, 2024. This innovative adaptation of Jacques Offenbach’s "La Périchole" transports audiences to the roaring 1920s in New Orleans, a time of decadence, but also of hardship for singers and lovers Songbird and Piquillo. As Mardi Gras unfolds, the Mayor's tempting offer forces Songbird to choose between financial security and true love.

Featuring Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and Tony-nominated leading man Ramin Karimloo, "Songbird" promises a captivating blend of operetta and jazz, with toe-tapping music, glamorous costumes, and a storyline filled with mistaken identities and comic twists. The production, adapted by Eric Sean Fogel, James Lowe, and Kelley Rourke, with musical arrangement and orchestration by James Lowe, and English lyrics and book by Kelley Rourke, brings a fresh perspective to Offenbach’s comedic love story, ensuring an unforgettable experience.

Performed in French and English with projected English titles, this new production, commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival in 2021, showcases the irresistible charm of the classic opéra bouffe with a Frenchman Street flair. Don't miss your chance to be part of this unique musical journey—tickets are available in subscriptions, offering the best seats, maximum flexibility, and exclusive savings. Join us at the Kennedy Center for a performance that infuses the spirit of New Orleans into the heart of opera.

Songbird

Kennedy Center

A lecherous playboy. A vengeful father. A tragic love affair. Giuseppe Verdi’s definitive tragic opera comes to Atlanta as a co-production with the Houston Grand Opera and the Dallas Opera. Rigoletto is a master of the tongue, a wily wordsmith with a malicious edge. But as he finds himself cursed by an affronted courtier, Rigoletto will discover the true consequences of his words will have an indelible impact on that which he holds most dear. Jasmine Habersham returns home to perform the role of Gilda in The Atlanta Opera’s production of Rigoletto.

The world’s greatest love story told in unforgettable duets, radiant melodies, and powerful choruses. While Gounod is best known for Faust, his setting of Shakespeare’s “most excellent tragedy” is a stunning showcase for its two young stars. With a stellar cast and a contemporary production from the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, be sure to catch this new take on a classic.

2023 Romeo and Juliet

Christmas Eve, Paris, an attic garret...that first touch of cold hands in the dark as the music swells. Against the backdrop of 19th century Paris, the hopes and dreams of a group of young bohemians collide with the realities of poverty and disease. Whether it is your first or your hundredth experience, La bohème never fails to cast its spell. Packed with some of opera’s most cherished moments, this tale of tragic young love became the basis for the popular musicals Moulin Rouge and Rent. With a ravishing score that brought Puccini international fame, this is the perfect opera for first-timers and aficionados alike.

2023 La bohème

Desire for a coveted ring begins a mammoth adventure to Valhalla. Gods, dwarves, giants, river nymphs, and dragons scheme and dream of power in Das Rheingold, the influential masterpiece by Richard Wagner that echoes in our popular culture today. 

Das Rheingold

Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, returns home to mourn his father’s death and begrudgingly attend the wedding of his mother, Queen Gertrude, to his uncle Claudius, who has all too willingly taken his brother’s throne. When the former king’s ghost appears and cries murder, Hamlet’s grief turns to obsessive revenge as he seeks to uncover evidence and unmask Claudius. Tension builds and plots spiral out of control, leading to a deadly final showdown. In an homage to the Guthrie’s beginnings, Hamlet will be onstage in May 2023 as the theater celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Hamlet

Guthrie Theater

In Harlem, a couple celebrates the birth of their firstborn—a boy, Black and beautiful. As the mother worries for her son’s future in today’s America, the father wrestles with his role as a police officer, a “Black man in blue.” When the unimaginable happens years later and a white officer kills the son, their deepest fears will come true.

Following its postponement in our 2020–2021 season, WNO presents the long-awaited D.C. premiere of Blue, the “Best New Opera of 2020” (The Music Critics Association of North America). Tony Award®–winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award–winning librettist Tazewell Thompson’s new opera is inspired by contemporary events and Black literature, including Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me and James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. Jeanine’s signature genre-blending style captures the grief of a community, the bonds of a family, and the vulnerabilities of protecting a child. By giving voice to the joy and pain of families that are often unheard, Blue places timely issues at the forefront of modern opera and invites audiences to the emotional epicenter of their impact.

Meet King Xerxes

He’s the most powerful man in Persia, so why can’t he get Romilda to marry him? The sensational American countertenor Key’mon Murrah stars in Handel’s tongue-in-cheek 1738 masterpiece about love and the limits of power. Dame Jane Glover conducts, in Tazewell Thompson’s vivid, color-soaked production.

Xerxes

Detroit Opera House

The vengeful Alberich—a power-hungry dwarf—steals the magic Rhine gold to forge an all-powerful ring. Wotan, king of the gods, entraps Alberich and relinquishes the gold ring to the giants as payment for building Valhalla. The cursed ring quickly claims its first victim.

Treachery, seduction, and a raging father dead set on revenge. Rigoletto—he’s the jaded jester paid to make others laugh in the debauched court of Mantua. But when his innocent daughter is cruelly seduced by the salacious Duke, Rigoletto stops being funny and vows revenge. Seething with rage, he launches an elaborate plot to avenge his beloved child. But everything goes terribly, terribly wrong…Experience Verdi at his most dramatically potent, with melody after irresistible melody sung by our incredible cast.

Verdi's Rigoletto has often been called the greatest of all operas. Filled with famous arias, it is also a powerful drama about a flawed father's love. Rigoletto, the Duke's joker, has always willingly gone along with the Duke's abuses of power--until his own daughter falls victim to the Duke's charms.

Rigeletto

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Sharp-witted court jester Rigoletto is the philandering Duke’s right-hand man, always quick to defend his patron’s womanizing and mock his master’s victims. But the joke is on him.

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

Silent Night is the powerful, true account of the spontaneous Christmas truce between French, British, and German soldiers during World War I. Based on the film “Joyeux Noël,” the story takes place on Christmas Eve, the opposing forces lay down their weapons, come together around a makeshift tree to sing carols, and play soccer matches. The soldiers’ peaceful actions are reprimanded by their commanders, but cast a lasting light on the goodness of humanity in the face of war.

Silent Night

Life’s not easy on the high seas—especially when you’re there by mistake. Gilbert and Sullivan’s witty wordplay, swashbuckling satire, and captivating cadences make this lighthearted operetta a much-loved classic that never fails to entertain. Known for timeless (and tongue-twisting) tunes like “The Very Model of a Modern Major General” and “Poor Wand’ring One,” Pirates takes audiences on a lively adventure filled with comedy, disguises, romance, and dazzling singing.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Strive toward the future. Learn from the past. The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs feels as epic and fresh as the release of the first-gen iPhone in 2007.

Inspired by the man behind the devices you use every day, Mark Campbell and Mason Bates’ GRAMMY®-winning one-act production explores the complex life, ambition, and spiritual searching of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in a gripping theatrical experience. Themes of connection and disconnection unfold through the signature “Symphonic Electronica” style of composer Mason Bates (who moonlights as a DJ and recently premiered a runaway hit at The Metropolitan Opera, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay). In the orchestra pit, the Utah Symphony intertwines with pulsing electronic beats, ambient soundscapes, and other digitally inspired textures that mirror the world Jobs helped create. It’s no wonder this Utah Opera re-release has been in demand since 2022!

Lighting Designer

Robert Wierzel

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 11 - Aug 17, 2026

Madame Butterfly · Glimmerglass Festival

10 - 18 Oct, 2026

Rigoletto · Pittsburgh Opera

7 - 15 Nov, 2026

Silent Night · Atlanta Opera

20 - 28 Feb, 2027

The Pirates of Penzance · Lyric Opera of Kansas City

8 - 16 May, 2027

Mason Bates & Mark Campbell's The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs · Utah Opera

Past events

Jul 11 - Aug 17, 2026

Madame Butterfly · Glimmerglass Festival

May 30 - Jun 7, 2026

Twilight of the Gods · Atlanta Opera

About

Robert Wierzel hasn't added a bio